TWO ELIZABETHS

CATE BLANCHETT AS ELIZABETH I AND ELIZABETH WARREN (FOR REAL) (Shutterstock)

Lacey Baldwin Smith has written that “Tudor portraits bear about as much resemblance to their subjects as elephants to prunes.” A slight exaggeration, maybe. But it is true that the historical accuracy of the depictions in Tudor portraits, particularly of royalty, was often at war with “symbolic iconizing” — the use of imagery to represent the person’s character, position or role. The symbolism could include inscriptions, emblems, mottos, relationships with…